A/N: This is a story about Hermione, lies, and fear. It takes place during and after the events in DH, ignoring the epilogue and allowing certain characters to live. This story has several implied themes including, but not limited to: rape, non-con, mental manipulation, BDSM, and phobias. If you feel that these may offend you, I recommend you seek out a different story.

Agoraphobia – The abnormal fear of being helpless in a situation from which escape may be difficult that is characterized initially by panic or anxiety and finally by avoidance of open or public places. As a result, severe sufferers of agoraphobia may become confined to their homes, experiencing difficulty traveling from this "safe place."

In case you live under a rock, Harry Potter and associated characters belong to J.K. Rowling. Chapter title is from Pretty Hate Machine, Nine Inch Nails.

When they arrived at Hermione's building, Tonks was waiting out front for them.

"Wotcher, Harry. Minerva," she greeted. "Before we go up to the Randalls, I think we should go to Hermione's flat. There are some things you need to understand."

Harry looked at her, curious as to what she and the other Aurors had found and had not yet told him. He gave her a nod and they followed her upstairs. When they reached the door, she turned back to stop them from entering.

"Harry, I want you to run through this like you would any other case. Keep your emotions out of it. The room has been sealed, and all the original wards have been re-established. I will open it up for you, and then we will see what you can find."

He nodded his acceptance but couldn't bring himself to speak. With a wave of her wand, the Auror wards were taken down.

Standing in front of the door, he started checking for any wards. He found Hermione's wards and easily dismantled them. He ran an additional check and was surprised when he found a Muggle-Repelling Charm. Why would she want to keep Muggles away from her door?

A final check revealed that a Disillusionment Charm had been placed on the potted plant near her doorway. A flick of his wand revealed a box in which a wand lay hidden. He looked to Tonks.

"We think that the person keeping her here used this wand to avoid detection. We haven't removed it for testing yet. We are hoping maybe he will reveal himself."

He nodded his understanding and continued into the flat.

He continued his search, finding faint magical traces throughout the room. The kitchen and sitting area seemed normal, with faint traces of magic. It seemed that Hermione rarely used magic here, preferring to do things the Muggle way. It could be why they were never able to trace her.

The only recent traces were to strengthen her wards. He found a strong pulse of magic in the bathroom. On the wall hung a print of the painting 'Head of a Girl'. There was another Disillusionment Charm on the picture.

A flick of his wand and Harry saw the picture had hinges. The picture opened to a medicine cabinet. There were various types of potions inside of it. He leaned closer to read the tiny scrawl of handwriting. Contraceptive and healing potions were on the top shelf, along with Pepper-up Potion, bruise-healing paste, burn-healing paste and a wound-cleaning potion. The second shelf held Befuddlement Draught, Calming Draught, Forgetfulness Potion and Sleeping Draught.

It was the contents of the third and final shelf that sent a shiver down his spine. Several love potions including Amortentia, Blood Replenishing Potion, Skele-Gro, a potion to induce miscarriages, another that purges the bowels of all waste product, Polyjuice Potion, and Veritaserum.

These were not something that Hermione would keep on hand just in case. These potions all served a purpose. Harry did not want to think about what that purpose may be.

He went into the bedroom where there were more hidden items. His stomach began to twist into knots every time he thought of what one might use each item for. There were various ropes and scarves, whips, shackles, and a large array of vibrating sex toys. Scanning the items, he found traces of semen and blood on most of them. The fact that someone did this to her and then erased it from her memory was nauseating.

When he was done, he sat at the kitchen table and put his head in his hands. He almost wished she had been killed instead of being subjected to this life.

Tonks put a hand on his shoulder. "Harry, there is more. You should return to the entrance and check there."

He got up and went downstairs, running his wand past the doors. His expression changed from concentration to confusion, and he turned back to Tonks to question her.

"It is almost as if someone didn't want her to leave here."

"More like someone made it so she wouldn't leave here. These wards are truly some advanced magic. Not quite Dark, but borderline I would say. We had to bring an Unspeakable in just to tell us exactly what it was.

"This entry and the back garden gate have been charmed specifically to Hermione. If she were to try to leave, she would face her biggest fears upon leaving the safety of the building.

"This is Hermione's diary," she said, pulling a small book from her pocket. "No, you can't read it, it is evidence, and though much of it has been erased or altered, we may be able to recover some information from it. From what we have gathered, every time she tried to leave, she would see something akin to a Death Eater standing in the alley.

"Come back upstairs, there is more you should hear."

Once they were seated around the table, McGonagall conjured some tea for the three of them.

"Whoever trapped Hermione here, most likely beat and raped her. The evidence points to this; I don't need her memories to know that. But the evidence also narrows down the number of people that could be responsible for this. There are very few wizards capable of creating the wards that are on the doors in this building.

"If you were to check, each and every door has an Anti-Hermione Charm on it. If she had tried to go to a neighbor for help, the wards would have prevented her. The strongest of these is on the flat directly above here.

"That door also has an additional charm on it, intended to keep the occupants of that flat from leaving this building on a permanent basis. In other words, the people who live there cannot move out if they wanted to. They don't realize this of course.

"We have already been up to speak to them. Don't worry, their memories have been modified, but I really needed to find out if they ever felt like moving. The wife told me they hadn't ever thought about it but might consider it soon. Their daughter is going away to boarding school, and her husband is retiring. They would like to move out of the city, find a small place in the country and relax.

"Now, this all seems to be too much of a coincidence to me. There seems to be a reason you wanted me here with you tonight, and I am guessing it has to do with that family upstairs," Tonks said, looking straight at Harry.

Harry ran his hand through his hair, a nervous habit and something he had not done in years. He looked at his friend and decided that it was best if she knew his suspicions.

"There is a young witch living in the flat upstairs. I met her a few weeks ago when I brought her the acceptance letter from Hogwarts. During my meeting with her and her parents, I learned that Peri, the young girl, was adopted. The whole time I was there with them, I felt that there was something about this girl that I was missing, like I knew her.

"When I returned to Hogwarts, I told Minerva about my suspicions, and she agreed to help me look into the child's parentage. We were hoping to find out if her parents were magical."

"Are they?" Tonks asked

"We are still not positive, but from what I learned today about Hermione, the wards and charms around this building, and what the crazy old coot's picture told Minerva, I think… maybe I'm reaching."

"No, Mr. Potter. I do not think you are," McGonagall said.

Tonks looked between the two professors, trying to understand what they weren't saying. After a moment, a thought hit her.

"You… both of you think that the girl is Hermione's daughter."

"Yes," Harry said, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from his chest.

Harry, McGonagall and Tonks made their way to the third floor. Harry knocked on the door, and a surprised Mrs. Randall in a dressing gown answered.

"Mrs. Randall, I am sorry to drop by this late at night, but we really needed to speak to you and your husband, if that is alright."

"Of course, Professor. Please come in. Peri told us what happened earlier. Do you know that woman from downstairs?"

"Yes. That is what we are here to talk to you about. This is Headmistress McGonagall from Hogwarts and Auror Nymphadora Tonks with the Magical Law Enforcement."

The three women made their polite greetings.

"Is Mr. Randall feeling up to talking? It would be best if you were both present to hear what we have to say," inquired Harry.

"I'm afraid this flu has him very ill. I can hardly rouse him to drink his soup."

"It is important that we speak with both of you. This is not something that can wait. If it is alright with you, I can send for a Healer to see to your husband."

"Uh… well, I don't…"

"It is perfectly safe, I assure you."

"If it is really that important, then I suppose that will be alright."

McGonagall turned to Tonks, "Nymphadora, would you retrieve Poppy."

Tonks nodded and left.

Poppy Pomfrey came out of the room followed by a bewildered, but healthier Mr. Randall. After the introductions were made, Poppy made her excuses and headed back to Hogwarts. Mrs. Randall busied herself fixing tea as Harry brought the man up to date on the events that had taken place that day, and Tonks placed a Silencing Charm on the young girls room.

The Randalls were stunned as they sat and listened to Harry. Mrs. Randall kept thinking about that poor woman and that she should have invited her to tea. Mr. Randall was concerned about his daughter and the world she had suddenly found herself a part of.

When Harry finished telling them everything that he knew, the room fell silent. Tonks was the first to break the silence.

"Mr. and Mrs. Randall, with your permission, I would like to check you for compulsion charms. I just need to scan you both with my wand. I promise it will cause you no harm."

The Randalls gave their consent, and Tonks began the scans. When she was finished, she nodded to Harry and McGonagall, confirming that both of the Randalls had been under the influence of charms.

"What does that mean?" Mr. Randall asked the Auror.

"It means that someone, most likely the wizard responsible for the condition of your neighbor, has placed several charms on you. The first was responsible for your desire to adopt. The second was aimed to keep you in this building. We had suspected this."

"You mean that we never really wanted or loved our daughter?" Horrified by this thought, Mrs. Randall broke down in tears.

Harry kneeled in front of her and grabbed her hands. When he spoke to her, his voice was soft and gentle. "No, the compulsion only made you take the steps to adopt her. You love and cherish that little girl by your own will. In your heart, she means more to you than any compulsion could make possible."

A teary Mrs. Randall stared into his eyes for a moment, trying to determine if what he said was the truth.

"How can you be sure? How do we know that it is not some curse that was placed upon us?"

"Look around you. Your kitchen cupboards are adorned with her artwork. Every inch of your mantle shows her smiling face. You accepted that she is a witch and that she is part of something you will never belong to. Trust me. If there was any part of you that did not cherish that child, these visual reminders and acceptance would not be here. Having a child thrust upon you and loving that child are very different. I know this. I have had some experience with it myself."

Mrs. Randall seemed to agree with him. She slowly regained her composure and looked around at the strange assembly of people in her sitting room.

"What should we do now? I mean, it is a possibility that our daughter belongs to the Granger woman."

"Peri belongs to you and your husband. There is no mistake in that. All we ask is for the three of you to come with us to the hospital tomorrow so we may confirm our suspicions about her biological parents," Harry said.

"Will this help you to determine who did this to us all?" Mr. Randall asked.

Tonks was the one to answer this. "It will help answer some questions. Until we do find out who is responsible, I feel it is in your best interest for us to find a temporary place for you to stay. Even though there are Aurors watching the building, I do not feel it is safe for you to remain here."

"Where do you recommend we place them?" McGonagall asked.

"With Harry's permission, the safest place would be Grimmauld Place. It is still one of the safest buildings in London, and it will give young Peri a chance to experience some of her new world before term starts up next month."

"Tonks, I have told you and Remus repeatedly. That is your home. You do not need my permission for anything that goes on there."

Tonks smiled at him. "Fine, I will send a note off to Remus to let him know to expect company."

She pulled some parchment and a quill from her robes and quickly jotted down a brief note before heading off to Peri's room to borrow her new owl, Skylar. Harry helped Mr. Randall pull the luggage from the storage closet. McGonagall quickly made the Portkey that would take the three Randalls to safety from a tea cozy.

Within the hour, the Randall family had packed and been whisked off to stay with the Lupins until the wizard who was responsible could be caught.

Harry went back into Hermione's room one last time. He thought maybe he would bring her something to spruce up her hospital room. The more he thought about it, though, the less he liked the idea. He wanted to light the whole place on fire and watch it burn.

Tonks followed in behind him and put the charms and wards back in place, but not before McGonagall had a chance to look in the medicine cabinet. Her gasp brought Harry's head to attention.

"What… what is it," he asked.

McGonagall pursed her lips as she held up one of the potion vials and shook her head. "It can't be, but it looks so familiar."

"Can't be what," Tonks called from the kitchen.

"He is dead; this can't be his handwriting."

"Who?"

"Severus."

Someone's POV

The light is on in your bedroom. I wish the curtains were open so that I could see your beautiful body. I remember the last time I was there. I came to you that night as myself, not as the persona I usually portray. Something I rarely do.

You made love to me that night. Of course you had the help of a potion and a few well placed suggestions. It was so good to feel your body slide up and down on top of me. I noticed you were trying to fight it; I could see the fear in your eyes. Your eyes never lie to me.

You barely seem to notice the difference between me and my other toy. There was no gasp of surprise I have come to expect when I reveal myself to you. I wonder if I have broken you yet. Have I have killed that fiery spirit you were known for in school?

I hope not. I do love the feisty lion hidden within you. It is why I chose you for my toy.

It was really chance that brought me to you. I saw you hurt, dizzy and stumbling around the grounds looking for your lost savior. In that moment, I made my decision. I took you to a safe house to keep you until I could arrange a more permanent place for you.

I hope you like your home. I did try to make sure it was nice for you. The other lives in squalor compared to this. But then he barely realizes who he is, so comforts would be wasted on him.

I allowed you to give him an heir. Everyone should have someone to carry on their bloodlines. Even him, the worthless half-blood traitor though he is.

Not that the girl will ever know. No one will ever know. You do not even know she is yours. You can't remember the joy or the pain of pregnancy. I saved you from that.

I kept her here, to torture him. I tell him when I bring him who she is. I think he yearns to hold her and love her. I even allow her to see him once in a while. I am sure with your genes she is curious about him.

I wish tonight I could play with you, my toy, but I must return home first. The time I spent away from you these last two months was painful. I needed to feel you and could not.

I want to touch your creamy skin, run my blade down your legs, and to play our many games. I want to hear you beg and cry for me to stop. I want to whip you until the blood flows down your back to that delectable arse of yours and colors it red. Then I would take you from behind, using your blood to coat me. I love to hear you scream in both pain and pleasure. I give you both. The marks you bear are from me, and they make you mine.

Have you thought about me and my toy while I was away? Do you pleasure yourself? Do you run your fingers through your wet folds and rub your clit until you come? How I wish you would do that for me. I want to watch you. Maybe next time that is the game we will play.

I will never let you go, but I may rescue you, soon. Then I can be the hero and you will love me for it. You will come to me then. I have conditioned you to want me and my touch. You yearn for it.

But first I must make plans. The other toy must be dealt with. He has outlived his usefulness. I will dispense with him this week. Don't worry, my love, no one shall miss him. He is already dead. Don't mourn for him, no one else shall.

Tonight I must hurry home. My wife will be waiting. I shall have to kill her tonight. The poisons are not working fast enough.

Soon we will be together, always.

The young Auror on duty watched a man in an elegant suit make his way out the back gate and walk down the alley. He thought nothing of the Muggle as he passed his hiding spot.

A/N: My thanks to Sempra for reading through this, time and time again, until I got it all right and for naming Peri's owl.